Tom Gantert, Senior Capitol Correspondent [Mackinac Center]

Tom Gantert is senior capitol correspondent for Michigan Capitol Confidential, a daily news site of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

When Gantert arrived at Capitol Confidential in February 2010, he already had extensive experience as a journalist, having worked for more than 20 years at Michigan daily newspapers, including The Jackson Citizen Patriot, Lansing State Journal and Ann Arbor News. Gantert also served a four-month stint at USA Today as part of a Gannett Corporation loaner program. In 2008, Gantert was The Ann Arbor News writer of the year, and in September 2009, he founded Reporting Michigan, a nonprofit news Web site.

Gantert holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. He has two sons and lives in Jackson, Mich.

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A123 Logs Its Own List of Failures

Published on Nov. 26, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

City Wants Drunk Drivers To Pay Police Costs

Published on Nov. 24, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State Board of Education President Makes False Voucher Claims

Published on Nov. 20, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Hefty School Employee Pensions Burden State Taxpayers

Published on Nov. 19, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Fiscal Cliff Could Hit Michigan Hard

Published on Nov. 17, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Red Dawn Finally Rising In Michigan

Published on Nov. 15, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Failing School Ranks Every Teacher and Principal 'Highly Effective'

Published on Nov. 14, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Failing Schools Able to Mark Themselves Up to a Passing Grade

Published on Nov. 13, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Home to Half of the Largest Bankrupt Green Energy Companies

Published on Nov. 12, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

District Used $1.7M in Tax Dollars Paying Employees Not To Take Insurance

Published on Nov. 9, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Voters Reject Special Interest Power Plays

Published on Nov. 7, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Tea Party Groups Predicting a Romney Victory

Published on Nov. 6, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Media Resoundingly Rejects Prop 2, Prop 4

Published on Nov. 5, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

No Teacher Evaluations On Halloween ... And Other Odd Union Contract Provisions

Published on Oct. 31, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Advocacy Alleged In School District Bond Promotion

Published on Oct. 27, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Arc Michigan Exec's Name-Calling Goes Against Group's Own Pledge

Published on Oct. 25, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Freep Editorial Page Editor Not Going to be Bullied by Prop 2 Supporters

Published on Oct. 24, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

University of Michigan Hosts 'Non-Partisan' Event: 'The Republican War On Women'

Published on Oct. 20, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Government Assistance Abounds, But Not For Your Water Bill

Published on Oct. 20, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Study: Most School Districts Violating Merit Pay Law

Published on Oct. 16, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School Districts Value Best Teachers $1 More Than The Worst

Published on Oct. 15, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District's Costly Decisions Protect Union Interests

Published on Oct. 13, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Detroit Police Union Official Says Resource Cuts Make Streets Unsafe, But Police and Fire Department Salaries Increased

Published on Oct. 12, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Spotty Track Record Doesn't Stop State Agency From Doling Out Deals

Published on Oct. 10, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Allows Union, Employees To Exclude Material From FOIA Requests

Published on Oct. 8, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Proposed Rear-view Camera Mandate Would Cost Up To $57.2 Million Per Life Saved

Published on Oct. 5, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School Districts Dodging Health Care Cost Savings

Published on Oct. 4, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Contracting Helps Cash-Strapped City Add More Police Officers For Less Money — And Better Service

Published on Oct. 2, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Contract: Teachers Can Be Caught In School Drunk Five Times and On Drugs Three Times Before Being Fired

Published on Sept. 28, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Gives Unfair Tax Handouts To Try and Counter 'Right to Work' States

Published on Sept. 26, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

County Blocks Private Citizens From Purchasing Home; Buys The Property Itself

Published on Sept. 25, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Obama-Promoted Battery Plant Moves to 'Rolling Furloughs' As Company Pulls Back on Jobs Projections

Published on Sept. 24, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Scorecard: Congressman Kildee Among The Worst At Looking Out For Taxpayers

Published on Sept. 22, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Education Funding Study Has Flawed Conclusion

Published on Sept. 20, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Proposal 2 Would Cost Taxpayers $1.6 Billion Per Year, New Analysis Says

Published on Sept. 17, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

City Spends $8 Million on Theater — Sells It Eight Years Later for $135,000

Published on Sept. 17, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Most of Michigan is 'Poor' or 'Marginal' For Wind Energy

Published on Sept. 14, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Requiring Parents To Pay For Magazine Subscription May Be Breaking State Law

Published on Sept. 13, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

'They Are A Bureaucratic Machine That Got Out of Control'

Published on Sept. 12, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

BREAKING NEWS: Roscommon Teachers Vote to Decertify From MEA

Published on Sept. 11, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Wind Turbine Answers Elusive

Published on Sept. 11, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

After Five Years Of Deficits, District Signed Contract Paying 100 Percent Of Health Care

Published on Sept. 7, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Teachers Denied Freedom to Vote on Unionization

Published on Sept. 4, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

'Protect Our Jobs' Amendment Would End Binding Arbitration

Published on Sept. 1, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Inkster Schools Wrongly Blames Previous Emergency Financial Manager for Its Deficit

Published on Aug. 31, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Happy Birthday Indeed for Saginaw Fire Department Union Members

Published on Aug. 29, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

U-M President Pushes Conservation While Taxpayers Pay Up To $30K A Year In Energy Costs For Her Residence

Published on Aug. 27, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Could Buy Laptop For Every Student If Teachers Paid Private-Sector Average For Health Care

Published on Aug. 24, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

What's in a Number? Job Projections Inflated as 'Job Years'

Published on Aug. 23, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Media Promotes Massively Inflated 'Green Jobs' Number Put Out by Ballot Proposal Supporters

Published on Aug. 22, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Gov't Report: Wind Energy Needs Taxpayer Support To Survive

Published on Aug. 18, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Former Governor Predicted 17,000 Jobs From 'Green Energy' Mandate, Number of Jobs Has Actually Dropped

Published on Aug. 17, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Environmental Group Exaggerates Number of Jobs 'Green' Energy Mandate Would Create

Published on Aug. 16, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Does the United States Have The 'Smallest Government in 45 Years'?

Published on Aug. 14, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Bill Would Require Parental Permission For Children To Be Taught By Ineffective Teachers

Published on Aug. 13, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Charter Schools Closing While Failing Conventional Schools Stay Open

Published on Aug. 9, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

With Far Fewer Members, MEA Executives Among the Highest Paid In the Nation

Published on Aug. 7, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEDC Still Using Questionable Benchmarks

Published on Aug. 6, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan U.S. Rep. Introduces Bill to Ban Criminal Background Checks

Published on Aug. 3, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Global Warming 'Skeptic' Never Really Was

Published on Aug. 1, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Payroll Increases Despite Pay Cuts for Some

Published on July 31, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

'Occupy' Movement Member Ticketed for Trespassing as Fire Alarm Is Pulled Disrupting Free-Market Conference

Published on July 30, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan PTA President Says Top Spending Highland Park District Needs More Money

Published on July 28, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Flint Union Contracts A Major Reason For City's Financial Problems

Published on July 26, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Flint Residents' Incomes Drop While City Spending Increases

Published on July 25, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

U-M President Praised as 'Rock Star' for Cutting Costs, Real Numbers Tell a Different Story

Published on July 24, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Survey Says ... School Union Contracts Contribute to Deficits

Published on July 21, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District With Continual Deficits Still Handing Out Raises

Published on July 19, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union-Backed 'Protect Our Jobs' Ballot Initiative Would Wipe Out Reforms Unions Already Supported

Published on July 17, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Saves By Dumping Expensive Union Insurance Plan

Published on July 16, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Local Police Union Uses Pay Raise to Help Pay Pension Costs

Published on July 14, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Teacher Layoffs Not Caused By Lack of Cash

Published on July 11, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Teacher Union Executives Get Big Raises as Teachers Take Cuts

Published on July 9, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State Spending More to Take Your Tax Dollars

Published on July 5, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State Spending Up Despite Total GOP Control

Published on June 30, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Obamacare Decision Likely to 'Rekindle' the Tea Party Movement

Published on June 29, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Former GOP Spokesman: 'Is Armed Rebellion Now Justified?'

Published on June 28, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Democratic Rep Cites Questionable Figures in Rant Against GOP's Budget

Published on June 27, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Charter Schools Not At Fault For Conventional School Failures

Published on June 26, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

More Than Half of School Districts Ignore Governor's Request For Health Care Reform

Published on June 23, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School Union Asks For Members' Bank Account, Credit Card Numbers to Guarantee Dues Payments

Published on June 20, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Only Two School Districts With Deficits Don't Meet 'Best Practices'

Published on June 18, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Banning Comments Not New In Lansing

Published on June 15, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Describes $13 Million Increase in Spending As Budget Cut

Published on June 15, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Study: Feds Favoring UAW in Auto Bailout Cost Taxpayers Extra $26.5B

Published on June 14, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State Spent $2.3 Million to Train 200 in Renewable Energy — Only a Few Got Jobs

Published on June 13, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union President's Email Tells Members to Get 'Everyone We Know to Vote For Democrats'

Published on June 12, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

City Pays Public Safety Officers Nearly Twice Residents' Incomes, Repeatedly Requests Tax Hikes

Published on June 9, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

GOP Congressman Under Fire For 'Detroit Union Boss Agenda'

Published on June 5, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

District's Union Contract Ensures Bonus Money For Teachers

Published on June 4, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Superintendent Worries Teaching Less Attractive Than Factory Work

Published on June 1, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

SEIU Sues State, Governor to Keep Home Health Care 'Dues Skim' Money Flowing

Published on May 31, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Ecorse Cuts Police OT in Half Once Union Contract’s Restrictive Language Was Removed

Published on May 31, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Teacher Union Poverty Claims Fail Fact Test

Published on May 30, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Attorney General Orders State To Stop SEIU 'Dues Skim'

Published on May 26, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Teacher and Spouse Make $140K Per Year, 'Adamant' That Their Children Will 'Never' Be Educators

Published on May 25, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Reality Check: Is Teacher Pay So Low They Cannot 'Eat and Have a Life'?

Published on May 24, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Government-Backed Green Energy Company Sweetens Package For Top Executives Despite Mounting Problems

Published on May 23, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Intimidation, Threats Take Place of Civil Discourse

Published on May 21, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Expensive Janitorial Contract Forces Cuts

Published on May 17, 2012 – Michigan Capitol Confidential